Fire actuated apparatus



Feb. 4, 1958 w. KEEMA 7 2,822,053

FIRE ACTUATED APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 88 INVENTOR.

fl/exender M/l' fifeema BY 2.? 67W ATTORNE YS.

Feb. 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 11, 1957 fig 6.

a 3 me R m w W 6 K x k .A m 5 A. w. KQEEMA 2,822,053

FIRE ACTUATED' APPARATUS Feb. 4, 1958 Filed March 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

fl/eXana/er W/neema A TORNEYS.

FIRE ACTUATED APPARATUS Alexander W. Keema, Wickford, R. I.

Application March 11, 1957, Serial No. 645,361

9 Claims. (Cl. 16926) This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 567,904 filed February 27, 1956.

The invention relates to an apparatus for use in connection with extinguishing fire in a building and is of the type which without manual attention will provide either a visible or audible alarm and will also cause a discharge of fire extinguishing fluid.

Various forms of fire extinguishing devices have been presented to the market utilizing different forms of disensing of some fluid for extinguishing fire. In order for fluid to be dispensed, some force such as gravity or some pressure must be utilized for the movement of the extinguishing fluid from its reservoir of storage to the place where it is desired. Most every building which it is desired to protect against fire by an apparatus such here disclosed has some form of water pressure in the building, and one of the objects of this invention is to utilize the water pressure which is present in buildings to dispense the fire extinguishing fluid.

Frequently the fire extinguishing fluid which it is desired to utilize is toxic, and danger of the fluid getting in the air or in the water supply in the building area is present. Therefore, as a further object of this invention i provide seals for the reservoir of extinguishing fluid which will positively prevent any migration of the exinguishing fluid either into the air about the building or into the water supply which is used in connection with the apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide an alarm which will notify persons of the dispensing of the toxic extinguishing fluid so that they may at once depart from the area.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple apparatus by which these objects may be carried out.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing one form of my apparatus having diagrammatically associated therewith means for providing an alarm and also for the dispensing of fire extinguishing fluid;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the fire extinguishing reservoir shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a part shown in section in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified arrangement of diaphragm piercing means from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a still different modified form of diaphragm piercing means;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on lines 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the structure of Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another of the parts of Figs. 6 and 7;

hired States Patent I apparatus;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the diaphragms; Fig. 14 is a fragmental sectional View through the scoring shown in Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing leak detecting.

means.

In proceeding with this invention, I have provided a reservoir for fire extinguishing fluid which reservoir contains a piston which, when moved in one direction, will force extinguishing fluid from the reservoir through a conduit to a desired point; and in order to provide a means for moving this piston in the desired direction, I have connected the reservoir to a water main which is under pressure with a means for controlling the water main conduit so that the conduit may be opened by some mechanical arrangement which is operable when undue heat in a locality occurs such as the existence of a fire. In order to seal the fire extinguishing fluid both from the escape through the nozzle and from any danger of contamination of the water under pressure to which it is connected, I have provided diaphragm seals and means for breaking these seals upon the occurrence of a fire fol lowed by the utilization of the Water pressure for forcing the extinguishing fluid from the reservoir. The diaphragms may be either broken by the water pressure or by mechanical means or by one assisting the other. I prefer to utilize a flexible cord or wire in which there will be located fusible links and run this wire over 10- calities where a fire might occur such, for instance, as over a furnace. The wire is maintained under tension so that should one of the links fuse, there will result a chain of events which will cause discharge of fire extinguishing fluid and also the sounding of an audible or visible alarm.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a preferred embodiment in which the fire extinguishing apparatus comprises generally a hollow cylinder 10 which is adapted to be filled with a fire extinguishing fluid l1 such as carbon tetrachloride. The cylinder 10 has a piston 12 slidably received therein, the fluid ll being normally in contact with one face of the piston and the other face being adapted to have fluid pressure act thereon which will apply pressure on the fluid l1, forcing the same to be discharged in a fine mist through a suitable nozzle 13. The passageway for the fluid 111 from the cylinder 1% to the nozzle 13 is normally sealed by means of a diaphragm l4, and the passageway from the fluid pressure source to the piston 12 is likewise normally sealed or blocked by spaced diaphragms l5 and 16. These diaphragms are adapted to be pierced or ruptured so as to open the said passageways for the flow of fluid pressure to the piston 12 and for the flow of fire extinguishing fluid ll to the said nozzle 13. This is accomplished in the present instance by means of shearing members or knives l7, l8 and 1%, there being a knife for each diaphragm l4, l5 and i6, and each knife being operated in a similar manner by a linkage designated generally 29.

The linkage is in turn actuated by means of a suspended weight 21 which upon being released will fall and provide a sufficient force, which is transmitted through the said linkage 2d, to move said knives and thereby shear an opening through said diaphragms freeing said passageways to the flow of the fluids therethrough as above described.

The cylinder ltl extends between a pair of cylinder heads 22 and 22' which are substantially similar to each other, and only cylinder head 22 need be described, like parts of cylinder 22' being indicated with like but primed numerals. The cylinder head 22 has an axial bore therethrough which is counter-bored at a number of locations therein so as to provide bore sections 24, 25, 26 and 27 of different diameters. The bore section 27 extends inwardly from the inner end of the cylinder head and forms with the adjacent smaller bore section 26 a shoulder 28 in which an annular groove or recess 29 is provided.

A sleeve or the like 30, 30 is positioned within said bore sections 26, 26' respectively and each sleeve being substantially similar, only sleeve 30 will be described and similar parts of sleeve 30 will be indicated with similar but primed numerals. The sleeve 30 (see Figs. 2 and 4) has an axial bore 31 therethrough which extends in line with the bore portions 24, 25 and forms therewith a passageway from the cylinder to the nozzle 13. The axial bore 31' of sleeve 30' likewise extends in line with the [bore portions 24', 25' of cylinder head 22 and forms therewith a passageway from the fluid pressure source to the piston 12. The bore 31 is counter bored at either end portion thereof so as to provide enlarged bore sections 32, 33 and shoulders 34 and 35 respectively. A bore extends diametrically through the middle of the sleeve and provides opposite bore sections 36 and 37 which open into the bore 31. The diaphragm 14 is positioned within the bore section 33 into sealing engagement against shoulder 35 and is held in place by an annulus 38 which may have press fit relation with the wall of bore section 33. The diaphragms 15, 16 are likewise received in bore sections 32', 33 respectively of sleeve 30 and likewise held in place by annulus 38'.

The end portions of cylinder 10 are snugly received within the bore sections 27, 27 of cylinder heads 22, 22 and abut against O-ring seals 39, 39 which are seated in the grooves 29 and 29 respectively. The cylinder heads are in turn secured to each other by conventional tie rods 40 (see Figs. 1 and 3).

The fluid pressure for applying a force on piston 12 may be any suitable fluid pressure. It is, however, preferable that the fluid pressure be furnished from the water supply of the building in which the present fire extinguishing apparatus is to be installed. To this end, the bore 24' of cylinder head 22' is screw threaded so as to receive a usual pipe fitting 41 leading to a water supply (not shown). The bore portion 24 of cylinder head 22 is also screw threaded to receive the nozzle 13 which may be of any suitable manufacture. The nozzle 13 herein shown (see Fig. 2) comprises a body 44 which is provided with an axial bore 45 which extends inwardly from the inner end of the nozzle and opens into an annular recess 46 from which a plurality of generally radial conduits 47 extend to open to atmosphere. A valve seat 45' surrounds the inner end of bore 45 and a closure plug 48 to cooperate therewith is screw threaded within the body 44 and is adapted to be moved toward or from said seat 45 so as to control the discharge of the extinguishing fluid 11 through the conduits 47, the valve plug being secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 49.

It will be apparent from the above description that the diaphragms 14, and 16 effectively seal the flow of fluid 11 to the discharge nozzle 13 and the O-rings 39, 39 seal the leakage of fluid 11 about the ends of the cylinder 10. Leakage past the sleeves 30, 30' is blocked by O-ring seals 50 and 50' respectively (Fig. 2). The fluid 11 is also sealed against leakage about piston 12 by the O-rings 12' carried by said piston. Likewise, fluid 11 which may escape about piston 12 is sealed at the O-ring 39' and diaphragm 15. Thus the fluid 11, which may be toxic, is effectively sealed within the cylinder 10 until such time as to be discharged therefrom. It may be here mentioned that the fluid 11 is held within the cylinder at no pressure greater than atmospheric and that should a leak occur at diaphragm 16, the fluid pressure of the water main would be blocked by the second diaphragm 15 from reaching the piston 12.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that knife 17 is carried by a cylindrical support 51 which is received in bore portion 36. The support 51 extends within the bore 31 and terminates in a bifurcated end portion (see Fig. 3) in which is received the tang of knife 17. A pivot pin 52 extends through said bifurcated portion and said tang so as to rockably mount the knife 17 on the support 51. Leakage of fluid 11 about support 51 is blocked by an O- ring seal 53. The knives 18, 19 are similarly mounted on a similar support 51 received in the bore 36 of sleeve 30', the knife 18 operating to sever diaphragm 15 and knife 19 operating to sever diaphragm 16.

The linkage 20 includes similar plungers 55 and 55' which slidably extend in the bore portions 37, 37 of sleeves 30 and 36'. The bore portions 37, 37 are continued as at 56, 56' in a boss forming part of each cylinder head and said plungers project outwardly through said bores 56, 56'. The outer end portion of each plunger is slotted as at 57 (see Fig. 3) and the bottom of the slot extends on a curvature 58 (best seen in Fig. 2). The inner end of said plunger terminates in a semi-spherical formation which is adapted to engage and rock said knives about their pivots toward said diaphragms, each plunger 55; 55' being provided with O-ring seals 59, 59' to block leakage past said plungers. A bar or flat link 60'is pivoted to a lug 61 on the cylinder head 22 and a similar link 60' is likewise pivoted to a lug 61 on cylinder head 22. The other ends of each of said links extend toward each other and are received in a groove 21' in the weight 21 and have an elongated opening 62, 62' through which pivot pins 63, 63 pass so as to movably mount said links to said weight for movement therewith and relative thereto. The links pass through the slots 57 and engage the bottom of the said slots.

It will be seen that during the movement of weight 21 from the full line position shown in Fig. l to the broken line position, the links 60, 60 will be carried along there with as indicated in broken lines and push plungers 55, 55 inwardly thereby forcing the cutting edges of the knives through the diaphragms and shearing an opening therethrough so as to open the said passageway for the flow of fluid therethrough. The weight 21 is normally held in suspended position by a cord or other flexible member 65 which has one end thereof hooked as to 66 to a screw threaded stud 67 which projects upwardly from the weight 21. The cord 65 extends through a guide eye 68 which is secured to a suitable support 66 and extends therefrom to be anchored as at 70 to a support 71. It is contemplated that the cord 65 be of a length so as to surround a substantially large area about the effective range of discharge of the fluid 11. A plurality of fusible links 72 are interposed at spaced intervals along the cord 65. These links 72 may be of any approved manufacture which will melt or become fractured when exposed to a predetermined temperature so as to release the weight 21 to fall under the action of gravity to set the fire extinguisher into action as above mentioned.

It is desirable that an alarm be sounded upon the actuation of the fire extinguishing apparatus. This may be readily accomplished by a spring urged arm 75 which is held in a neutral position by a finger 76 projecting from the weight 21 and extending into the path of movement of arm 75. Upon falling of said weight, the finger 76 will be carried therewith freeing arm 75 to move under urge of spring pressureto bridge a pair of electric contacts 77 to complete an electric circuit through wires 78, 79 between some source of electric energy such as a battery 80 and an audible and visible signaling device 81.

The apparatus above described is provided with mounting plates 82, and a sheet metal guard indicated generally 83 incloses the upper portion of the apparatus so as to protect the same against foreign matter lodging upon the exposed working parts of the fire extinguisher.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification in which the diaphragm shearing members 85 are generally cylindrical with an X-shaped cross section having ribs 89 terminating in a pointed end which is adapted to pierce the diaphragms indicated 86, 87. The members 85 are slidably received in the portion 88 of the pasageway through the sleeve indicated 30a. The plunger 55a has a conical inner end which is adapted to be wedged between the members 85 thereby forcing them apart, their movement resulting in pierced diaphragms that provide an opening for the fluid to pass. It will be noted that the grooves and ribs 89 provide a structure that will readily allow fluid to pass said members.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 I have shown a further modification in which the sleeve 3% is provided with parallel bores 90 in which are slidably received diaphragm piercing members 91. The member 91 has a pointed end 92 which is adapted to be forced through a diaphragm as indicated in Figs. 6, 7 by numerals 93 or 94. Each member 91 has a cam surface (see Fig. 8) cut at one side thereof and a longitudinal groove 96 at the opposite side. 'Ihe members 91 are arranged in the bores 90 in a manner so that the pointed end of one of said members 91 extends toward one of the diaphragms and the pointed end of the other of said members 91 extends toward the other of said diaphragms. This positions the cam surfaces 95 to face each other, one on either side of the central axis of the sleeve 30:). A plunger 55b is provided with oppositely disposed cam surfaces 97 and is slidably received in a bore 98 which intersects the bores 90. The cam surfaces 97 extend into engagement with the cam surfaces 95 and these are arranged such that upon an inwardly movement of said plunger 55b, the members 91 wil be moved to pierce the said diaphragm so as to open the same to the passage of the fluid therethrough, the fluid flowing past members 91 through the grooves 96 therein.

In Fig. I have shown a further modification in which the sleeve 300 has two oppositely disposed bores 100 which converge adjacent the periphery thereof. These bores 100 intersect the passageway 101 through the sleeve 30c at an angle and open into said passageway at a location adjacent to the diaphragms 102 which seal said passageway. A knife 103 having a cylindrical body is slidably received in each of said bores 100 and terminates at the inner end thereof into a knife edge 104 which is adapted to be moved through said diaphragms so as to shear an opening therethrough. The plunger 550 has the inner end portion thereof tapered as at 105 on an angle to abut the outer end of knives 103. It will be apparent from the above and from Fig. 10 that a downward pressure applied on plunger 550 will be transmitted to knives 103 and move the same in the same direction so as to shear an opening through said diaphragms.

From the foregoing it will be noted that in the several modifications shown and described, the diaphragms are mechanically sheared or pierced so as to provide an opening through said diaphragm for the passage of the fluid sealed by said diaphragm. It will also be noted that a seal is provided at each location where a possible leakage of the fire extinguishing fluid 11 may occur so as to provide effective protection against such fluid 11 escaping from the apparatus when in the inactive condition thereof.

In Figs. 11 to 14 there is illustrated a modification in which the fluid pressure is employed for bursting the sealing diaphragm and in which the fluid pressure is controlled by a weighted valve positioned in the fluid supply line to the cylinder or fuel reservoir of the apparatus. The reservoir 110 as in the prior described modification comprises a cylinder 111 filled with the fire extinguishing fluid 112 which may be also a carbon tetrachloride. Duplicate heads are provided, one at either end of this cylinder, that at the upper end being designated 113 and at the lower end 114. Each of these are recessed as at 115 to receive the end of the cylinder 111, and between the end of this cylinder and the head and located in this recess there are diaphragms 116 at the upper end and 117 at the lower end as shown in Fig. 12. These diaphragms (Figs. 13 and 14) are each scored as at 118 and 119 providing a point of weakness 120 at the center of the diaphragm which will break ahead of the other parts of the diaphragm. Bolts 121 on the outer surface of the cylinder and extending through bosses in the heads secure the heads on to the end of the cylinder and the diaphragms in position.

The lower head 114 is provided with an axial boss 122 which is threaded as at 123 for the reception of a nozzle designated 124 having direct outlets 125 which may be aimed at different points to which it is desired that the fire extinguishing fluid shall be delivered. The upper head 113 is provided with a boss 126 which is internally threaded as at 127 to receive the conduit 128 connected to a water pressure system. The introduction of water in conduit 128 is controlled by a valve 129 (Fig. 11) which has a lever 130 weighted as at 131 and held against the action of gravity in a closed position by a flexible cord 132 in which there is positioned a fusible link 133 over a furnace 136 or other source of potential fire danger, as seen in Fig. 11. This cord is disposed over a pulley 134 held by bracket 135 mounted on the conduit 128.

When the link 133 fuses because of some fire which may occur over the furnace 136, the slack in the flexible cord 132 will permit the weight 131 and lever 130 to drop, opening the valve 129 and permitting water to pass along the conduit 128 and into the head 113 and to the space 137 (Fig. 12) between the head 113 and the diaphragm 116 to apply force upon the diaphragm. Since the diaphragm is frangible under a force such as exerted by water pressure in the usual system, the diaphragm breaks and the water under pressure enters the reservoir 110 engaging the piston 138 which is fluid tight to the inner walls of the cylinder 111 by reason of O-rings 139.

When pressure is applied to the piston, this pressure will be transmitted at once through the liquid fire extinguishing carbon tetrachloride material 112 to in turn break the diaphragm 117 whereupon the liquid will then pass through the discharge nozzle 124 and be directed by the outlets 125 to the desired location.

At the same time that the weight 131 and lever 130 move to lowered position, an electric alarm will be actuated by closing of the contacts 146 by the lever 147 urged by spring 148 into bridging relation to complete a circuit through wires 140 and 141, and some electrical energizing means 142, such as a battery, to an audible signal 143, energizing the same and arousing attention of any person present so that he may at once leave the area.

Suitable brackets 144 may be provided on each of the heads for mountin the device on the wall or on some suitable support. It is unnecessary that the device here illustrated be in a vertical position, as shown. For ease in servicing and in order that the fire extinguishing fluid may be inserted, I have provided a tapped hole and plug 145 into which the carbon tetrachloride may be forced thereby urging the piston 130 upwardly until the device is completely filled.

Fire extinguishing apparatus of the type above described are usually installed in place and thereafter receive little if any attention. It is conceivable after a period of time that, due to unknown defects in material and/ or other causes as, for example, corrosion, a leakage may develop at the water pressure sealing diaphragm which may result in a condition in which the fire extinguishing fluid may be held at an undesirable pressure. In order to detect such leakage at the time it may occur, I have shown a modification in which a pressure sensitive device 150 (see Fig. 15) is provided which through a suitable bore 151 is inserted in the cylinder head 22 soas to extend within the portion of the passageway between the diaphragms 15 and 16 at the. location indicated in Fig. l. The device 150, of known manufacture, operates upon pressure being applied thereon to produce a linear movement of some part of the device as, for example, a pin 152. A contact bar 153 is carried by the pin- 152 and is adapted to be movedtherewith to engage and bridge a pair of electric contacts 154 so as to complete an electric circuit through wires 155, 156 to some source of electric energy such as a battery 157 to energize an audible signaling device 158 so as to warn that aleakage has developed at the cylinder head 22'.

There is additionally provided a device which will operate through water pressure and independent of any electrical circuit to sound an audible alarm upon rupture of the water sealing diaphragm 16 and also upon failure ofsaid diaphragm as by leakage. To this end, a radial bore 160 is made in member 30' to open in the space between diaphragms 16 and 15. The bore is continued outwardly as at 161 through the wall of head 22. A tubular member 162 is inserted into bore portion 161 and carries a sound producing device such as, by way of example, an air actuated whistle 1'63. The bore 160 provides a cylinder in which a piston 164 is arranged to be moved outwardly by water pressure. Thus upon the rupture of the diaphragm 16, the water pressure acting on said piston 164 will cause the same to move outwardly and move the air ahead thereof to actuate the said whistle 163 and give an alarm.

I claim:

1. In a fire extinguishing apparatus in combination with a liquid pressure means, a reservoir of fire extinguishing fluid, a discharge nozzle connected to said reservoir, a frangible diaphragm sealing said nozzle from said fluid, a piston in said reservoir movable toward said diaphragm, said fluid being located between said diaphragm and said piston, a liquid pressure means connected to said reservoir on the side of the piston opposite that toward said diaphragm, heat responsive means and liquid pressure control means operable in response thereto for applying said pressure to said piston to force the extinguishing fluid from said nozzle.

2. In a fire extinguishing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein mechanical means are provided to rupture said diaphragm;

3. Ina fire extinguishing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein theheat responsive means is a fusible link.

4-. In a fire extinguishing apparatus as in claim 1 whereinthe liquid pressure control means includes a diaphragm sealing the liquid pressure from the piston.

5. In a fire extinguishing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the liquid pressure control means includes a diaphragm sealing the liquid pressure from the piston, said diaphragm being scored to provide weak portions.

6. In a fire extinguishing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the liquid pressure control means includesa diaphragm sealing the liquid pressure from the piston and mechanical means to rupture the diaphragm.

7. In a fire extinguishing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the liquid pressure control means includes a diaphragm sealing the liquid pressure from the piston and a second diaphragm sealing. the reservoir from a rupturing means and mechanical means to simultaneously rupture both diaphragms.

8. In a fire extinguishing apparatus as in claim I wherein audible means are operable in response to the heat responsive means.

9. In a fire extinguishing apparatus in combination with a liquid pressure means, a reservoir of fire extinguishing fluid, a discharge nozzle connected to said reservoir, 21 frangible diaphragm sealing said nozzle from said fluid, a piston in said reservoir movable toward said diaphragm and between which and said diaphragm said fluid is located, a liquid pressure means connected to said reservoir on. the side of the piston opposite that toward said diaphragm, a second frangible diaphragm sealing said liquid pressure means from said piston, means to control said liquid pressure means for application of the pressure thereof to said second diaphragm to sequentially break said second diaphragm and apply pressure to said piston, break the first diaphragm, and force the extinguishing fluid from said nozzle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,638,050 Mead Aug. 9, 1927 2,021,493 Trueblood Nov. 19, 1935 2,025,782 Seat Dec. 31, 1935 2,346,183 Paulus et al Apr. 11, 1944 

